Funny Books: Archie Meets the Punisher (!?!)

The Punisher Meets Archie - Aug. 1994

Redartz:  Hello, and welcome to our first foray into humor comics! In today's case, we step a bit outside our usual Bronze Age parameters to look at a bit of 90's odd  hilarity. And not to worry, it was produced by some pretty familar Bronze Age names: Stan Goldberg, John Buscema and Tom Palmer (along with Eisner award-winning writer Batton Lash). So, how does Marvel's one man war on crime face off with Riverdale's all-American teen? Let's find out:

The premise of the story is one of those old Bronze Age (and earlier) chestnuts: a case of mistaken identity. In this case, Frank Castle is after a lowlife con by the name of Melvin (Mel) Jay. This is only the first of innumerable little in-jokes found in this story. For those less familiar with the Archie Groups' background: the company once was known as MLJ (MeLJay, get it?). Anyway, Mr. Jay just happens to have a remarkable resemblance to a certain red-haired teenager. And that's where things take off. 

We join Archie as he tries to see Veronica, but his usual ill fortune betrays him again; off he goes to join Jughead at Pop Tate's Choklit Shoppe. Meanwhile the Punisher has tracked Jay to Riverdale, and stakes out Pop's. He sees who he thinks is Melvin, accompanied by some thin kid with a pointy hat, being taken for a ride by a couple hoods, and so he follows.

Other interested parties are after Mel as well, in particular those two thugs (Buzzy and Binky) who kidnap Archie and Jughead, thinking they actually have their quarry. The Punisher makes the same mistake, and this leads to the first meeting between the two protagonists: 

Meanwhile, the actual Mr. Jay has convinced Hiram Lodge, Veronica's father, that he is a pharmaceutical executive looking to expand into Riverdale. This leads to Mel serving as Veronica's escort to a 50's themed dance at the High School (Veronica seeing a chance to get back at Archie, who had gotten on her bad side earlier). By the way, the action repeatedly switches back and forth between the Punisher storyline and the Riverdale gang, with Buscema largely pencilling the former and Goldberg handling the latter. As the storylines merge, both pencillers are found working within the same panels; Palmer doing his usual fine job with the inks.

Archie and Jughead find out Veronica's escort isn't quite kosher, and the Punisher (with his assistant, "Micro" Chip) learns from the hoods that Mel will be found at the dance that night (and of course, who else but Josie and the Pussycats provide the entertainment for the evening).  Archie tries to convince Betty and Reggie of the danger Veronica is in. At the same time, big Frank has gone undercover as a new  Physical Education teacher, hired by Coach Kleats, at the dance to help chaperone. This leads to some fun interaction with Miss Grundy...

Riverdale High has never seen a dance like this one! Binky and Buzzy's cohorts have replaced the caterers for the dance, after being tipped off by stagehand "Scooter" and are after Mel; who is finding out Veronica's no pushover. A brief aside: the names bandied about in the story read like a Who's Who of teen humor books: Scooter, Buzzy and Binky, That Wilkin Boy, Katy Keene, Millie the Model, etc. 

 The fireworks start, Mel escapes with Veronica to a storage warehouse full of parade balloons, where the final showdown occurs. The ending is rather 'uplifting'...

There is so much to look at, look up,and chuckle over in this story. Every page is jam-packed with in-jokes and 'Easter eggs'. This is one of those comics I've read time and time again, each time seemingly discovering another hidden pun. Batton Lash knows his stuff, and has done his research. He gives a convincing voice to each character, and provides some striking moments. Among them: Frank Castle's initial amazement at finding an old-fashioned town like Riverdale, and his musings on where his life might be had he lived in such a place. Also memorable: the scenes between Frank and Miss Grundy; and Reggie's reaction to seeing the Punisher ("He don't look so tough").

And the artists are having a ball with the material. Buscema gives his usual dramatic work, Goldberg's characters are charmingly familiar, and Palmer's inks give it all a sense of consistency. It is especially fun to see the pencilers' work side-by-side in the latter panels. 

All told, this book is loads of fun, whether you're an Archie fan, a Punisher buff, or just love a good comic book story. I'm still holding out hope the last panel may someday come to fruition; if it does, look for another review...